Rail-joint



No. 627,247. Patented June 20, I899.

J. WAYLAND.

RAIL. JOINT.

lication filed Oct. 5

L; ATTORNEY Q 'one edge.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JAMES WAY LAND, ()F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,247, dated Tune 20, 1899.

Application filed October 5, 1898. Serial No. 692 692- (N0 odem To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WAYLAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a joint for. the abutting rails of a railway-track which will have greater stiffness than those in common use, will effectually-preventspreading of the rails under heavy traffic, and will preserve the abutting rail ends on the same plane or level, so as to provide a continuously smooth tread for the Wheels at all times.

In carrying out the invention I provide a stiff steel bed-plate provided along or near one edge with a web integral with the body of the bed-plate, having on its inner face a plane surface to constitute an abutment for an angle-bar of peculiar construction used to unite the rail ends. The angle-bar is of a shape to permit it to rest in the side of the rail and fit snugly under the head thereof and is provided with a flange which overlaps the base of the rail, through which pass bolts for firmly clamping the joint, including the angle-bar and the rail, to the bed-plate. The angle-bar has also a shoulder to fit snugly against the base of the rail, thereby effectually precluding the possibility of the latter shiftin g when the parts are assembled.

The several features of novelty of the invention will be more particularly hereinafter described, and will be definitely indicated in the claim appended to this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a rail joint embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such a joint, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the joint.

1 represents a bed-plate which is preferably made of heavy steel-plate, provided by being passed through suitable rolls or by any other suitable process with a 1011 gitudinal rib 2 near This rib serves a double function in increasing the stiffness of the plate against vertical fiexure and in providing an abutment for an angle-piece 3, forming part of the railjoint. The bed-plate is placed upon adjacent cross-ties of the track, to which it may be spiked in the usual manner by driving spikes through notches formed at suitable points in the plate, asindicated at 4 l, (to. The anglebar 3 is adapted to fit snugly against the head of the rail bearing at its upper end hard against the head of the rail. It is firmly tied to the web of the rail by a plurality of hori zontal bolts 5 5, 850. Its lower arm extends over the base of the rail and is provided with a shoulder 6, against which fits the rail-base. In theoverlapping edge are a plurality of bolt holes to accommodate bolts 7 8, the heads of which are buried in squared sockets or recesses on the under side of the bed-plate. I preferably provide also on the oppositeside of the rail an an gle-bar 9, similar in construction to the angle-bar 3, except that the overlapping edge may be shorter, as no vertical bolts through the bed-plate are used or are necessary for this angle-bar, and it is desirable in order to permit easy removal of the parts of the joint for repairs to have one side capable of quick and easy removal. The angle-bar 3 is set on the outside of the track, so that anylateral thrust under traffic is opposed by the rib 2, and the hammer-like blows delivered by the wheels in passing over the joint are absorbed by the steel bed-platc without damage to the cross-ties. It is important that the angle-bars should fit snugly in the faces of the rail, as I have described them, thus relieving the horizontal bolts of any lateral strain and thus insuring greater life to the joint. In taking a joint apart for repairs the horizontal bolts are loosened and the inside an gle-bar removed, thus permitting the ends of the rail to be shifted laterally and the angle-bar 3 to be removed. It will be seen that the horizontal rib 2 adds great stiffness to the joint and effectuallyprevents any sinking or bending down of the rail at that point.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A rail-joint comprising abutting rails, a bedplate supporting the rail ends and resting upon adjacent cross-ties, said bed-plate being free from projections on its under side and provided on its upper face at one side only with a longitudinal rib integral with its bed and. rising upwardly from its floor, the remaining portion of the upper face being flat,

an angle-bar on the outer side of the railthe joint, and a series of horizontal bolts se- 16 joint fitting snuglyinto the face of the rail so curing the tWo angle-bars to the rails. as to bear against the head and base thereof In testimony whereof I have hereunto suband provided at its bottom with a shoulder to scribed my name this 4th day of October, A. bear upon the bed-plate between the foot of D. 1898.

the rail and the rib of the bed-plate, a series 7 JAMES WAYLAND. of vertical bolts passing through the shoulder WVitnesses:

of the angle-bar and the floor of the bed-plate, ROBT. 11. READ,

a companion angle-bar on the inner side of C. R. WATERBURY. 

